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New York, 8:25 AM
Sat Nov 28
15 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/08/09
10/10/09
10/08/09
And he's got his original job back, playing football. Doesn't mean he should get a show too.
I guess I'm stating something obvious to everyone else here, but he's getting a show BECAUSE of the dogfighting, or at least, his being caught, and I think that's f*cked up and trashy, but we're talking about it, which is what BET wants. He got caught, couldn't pay someone (a rape victim, a girlfriend or mistress, etc.) off, and got face time in the media. Plus this case is juicy because of the bullshit idea floating around that dogfighting is okay because the only foundation for disgust is elitist, racist valuing of animals over people.
I wasn't aware being disturbed by animal torture (even if you don't give a shit about pets) is just white peevishness. Or that people can only take offense at violence or abuse of one's wealth/fame against animals OR humans, but not both. Kind of undermines the blogosphere's love of Chris Rock after that stuff he said on Jay Leno. Like someone else on this board, he compared the Vick case to the Polanski case. And like plenty of other fucking idiots (and I LIKE Chris Rock's stand-up), in the interview he referred to the Polanski case as "sex with a thirteen year-old" and made the argument that if it's rape, it's because of the victim's age. Even the celebrities who WILL criticize Polanski only seem to note that it's rape because the victim was thirteen, NOT because the asshole forced himself on someone telling him to stop. God help us, the opponents of Polanski are as stupid as the defenders, because they're obsessed with the age of the victim, not the coercion, making me wonder if any of these famous assholes would sense something amiss if Polanski's victim had been 18.
Regarding the extent of Michael Vick coverage--didn't his case break during summer, making it more likely the media would yammer on about this?
I will say I'm kind of confused; celebrities are no longer default role models, correct? I guess that doesn't matter--they're "role models" because they're paid millions of dollars and people see them as entertainers, if not templates for a successful, decent life. I'm all for holding other athletes to the same standards of public indignation as Vick. The problem is, those "other" athletes can settle with their victims in court or skewer their reputations. Of course dog fighting isn't worse than rape, but unlike human victims, dogs can't attempt to seek justice for themselves. (Though I realize the penalties for pressing charges against some powerful can be lethal too, unless you have a spotless history or hard evidence, so why NOT just demand a settlement?)
Surprised no one has brought up corporate farming to fend off the criticism of this show ("if you eat meat, you shouldn't give a shit that Michael Vick participated in dog-fighting but is rich again").
10/08/09
While "he served his time" means we should charitably allow him to rejoin society relatively unmolested, there's no right to a NFL contract, with all the lush benefits that accrue.
The NFL and BET embracing him with warm arms and murmurs of encouragement is the true crime that irks most of the people that loathe Vick and what he stands for.
If he received the same treatment that a Dan White or one of many boy-diddling Republican pols (being made to sink into an ignored, faded ignominy), there'd be much less ire.
And for that, Vick, BET and the NFL are all co-conspirators.
10/08/09
Cruelty to animals is horrible and thankfully illegal. Michael Vick was punished and put in jail. He served the time a judge and jury sentenced him with. He doesn't owe anybody a damn thing.
10/08/09
10/08/09
Find a non-celebrity felon convicted of a violent crime and ask him if he's been able to get a job at all, never mind two highly overpaid ones.
Vick should only be on television greased up with animal fat and thrown into a pen filled with starved, abused, aggressive dogs.
That I would watch.
10/08/09
10/08/09
10/08/09
And: maybe this "docu-series" will actually shed some light on how and why Vick came to think running a dog fighting ring was a fine idea....
10/08/09
As far as I'm concerned, being convicted of a felony crime (particularly a violent crime, like dog fighting or spouse beating) should drastically reduce your opportunities to make millions of dollars. But, for normal non-celebrity or non-athlete people, it only drastically reduces your ability to make thousands of dollars.
As far as Vick's reasons go, I don't really care. I suspect it had an awful lot to do with money. Does it really matter?
10/08/09
sorry, wrong thread.
10/08/09
10/08/09
10/08/09
What a messed up world we're living in, eh?
10/08/09
10/08/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
Jeans, white T-shirt, sneaks. Works in just about every situation you might find yourself in. Your welcome.
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
09/09/09
05/31/09